2008 has been full of ups and downs for the PlayStation 3. Whether or not Sony delivered on all their promises is questionable.
However, if there is one thing that can't be taken from Sony's next-gen console is the tremendous growth its software library has undergone over the past year.
In 2007, critics of the PS3 lambasted the console's software catalog. The system was victim of numerous shoddy ports, and lacked any defining title it could call its own. Then, early in the new year, Sony made the eyebrow raising announcement that they intended to drive sales not by slashing the price again, but by delivering quality software.
And, to the disbelief of even the most devout Sony fanatics, things did begin to change. The PS3 became the lead platform for many multiplatform projects, ironically, not because it was the most powerful platform, but because it was the most infuriating to develop for. Starting with Burnout Paradise in January, the differen... More »
Every year kids (and adults that wish they were still kids) make lists of what they what for Christmas. This year there are tons of great titles to enjoy. We’re here to help you along with that list. Here are some of the great games of the year for any system.
The Nintendo Wii is sure to be another big seller this season. Whether your just now getting the system or looking for a good game you may have missed, we got you covered.
First we have the music games. It really doesn’t matter which you get, if you’re into feeling like your in the music any of the instrument games are good for you. You can choose from Rock Band 2, Guitar Hero, or even the new Guitar Hero World Tour. All these games are great for family and friends, or a solo bash. Maybe you’re looking for those hidden gems, well then you definitely want to look up World of Goo and de Blob.
If you’re looking for mass market hits you have the new shooter Call of Duty: World at Wa... More »
The console market today is as tough as any industry there is, but it wasn't always like this. For the past several years the PS2 has been the console to trump, and before it there was the original PlayStation which also dominated the market.
One unclear question still remains though; will the PlayStation 3 remain atop the market? Many analysts believe that this will in fact hold true, but why are they claiming this? In my personal opinion, here are the Top 5 reasons that the PlayStation 3 will eventually re-take the lead in the game industries market.
#5 The Xbox 360 and How It Matches Up
The Xbox 360 is a great console, but it has its flaws. The Xbox 360 is a very similar console to the PS3. They have similar play and they have similar specifications. The Xbox 360 has an estimated 30% failure rate and this will cost Microsoft dearly. The Xbox 360 is struggling to maintain its position in America, and if that isn't enough it can't even ga... More »
So after weighing in on Resistance 2, it started to dawn on us: is this now the franchise to beat in the FPS genre? And with the impending Killzone 2, is the PlayStation 3 now home to the best FPS experiences on the planet?
Typically, Microsoft has been responsible for the best FPS experiences ever since the original Xbox launched way back in 2001 with Halo. Even multiplatform FPSs have been better on a Microsoft console, although we believe that trend will soon fade in this generation.
Earlier, developers simply didn't have a good handle on the PlayStation 3, but now, things are starting to come together and it appears it's Sony's machine that has the best to offer in the FPS genre. Xbox 360 loyalists will consistently turn to Halo 3, but although I am a big fan of that trilogy, the fact of the matter is that Resistance 2 is better.
Insomniac's initial effort, as good as it was, may not have been a "Halo killer," but the sequel most certainly ... More »
According to PSX Extreme (linked above), Nomura has told a publication that we will see a battle scene in FFXIII before the end of the year. He also touched upon the benefits of the Blu-ray format for the game.
To quote: However, according to Final Fantasy XIII-net, (details translated by a NeoGAF forum member), the latest information tells us we will see gameplay footage for FFXIII before 2008 is out.
Square-Enix's Tetsuya Nomura spoke about the game in a Gemaga interview, and he says we will "see a battle scene in FFXIII before the end of the year." He also mentions the benefits of Blu-Ray for their ambitious RPG, and furthermore, they should soon release information on the game's expected-to-be-stellar voiceover cast.
For many, this game remains the most anticipated title of the new generation, and despite the delays, it remains high on everyone's priority list. It is coming to the Xbox 360 as well - PS3 owners still haven't recovered... More »
Things haven’t been going over too well in the Sony camp since the launch of the PS3. While it sold faster than the PS2 in comparison to its launch, the PS3 has been a financial pain in Sony’s side for the past two years.
The added state of the rest of the economy have finally culminated in Sony seeing 10% of their market share value drop rapidly. So what does this mean for the PS3?
In a story by rte (among many others) Sony’s operating profits are expected to drop by an inexcusable 65%. Competition has been stiff. And even though many reporters blame the Wii, it’s actually Microsoft’s Xbox 360 that has been eating into Sony’s gaming sales.
It wasn’t the Wii that the PS3 lost Devil May Cry’s exclusivity to, nor was it the Wii that gave gamers an alternative for games like BioShock, Eternal Sonata, Unreal Tournament 3 and Fatal Inertia. Said games helped give Microsoft an ... More »
ExtremeTech has found that replacing the PS3's hard drive with Intel's new X-25 solid-state 80GB drive can reduce a games load times by up to 40%.
However, the drive does not greatly improve install times as the read performance of the Blu-ray drive holds it back. If anyone is considering this upgrade, it will set you back $600.
To quote: We've already raved about the stellar performance of Intel's new X-25 solid-state drive, which just happens to come in an 80GB capacity and 2.5-inch SATA form factor. Perfect for a PS3!
So after a quick FAT32 format, we dropped the drive in the PS3 unit we keep in the HDTV lab here (an original 60GB unit) to see what kind of impact it has on install times, game start times, and load times.
We took four games notorious for long installs or load times and timed them both with the original 60GB hard drive and the Intel SSD. The results may surprise you—but at $600, it's certainly not a cheap upgrad... More »
The new Xbox 360 Dashboard OS update is coming soon and it is going to be one of the biggest changes to the Xbox 360 since the system hit the market.
It is going to include the first complete redesign of the Xbox interface called the NXE by all the cool kids. The New Xbox Experience (NXE) is going to be the best thing to hit the Xbox and it is going to completely redefine how we use it.
One of the niftiest things at Penny Arcade Expo 08 was seeing the new Xbox dashboard. Xbox Live's own Major Nelson showed it off. He made sure to stress that it is still a work in progress and that there was an army of programmers over in Redmond that were cranking out code and testing it as he gave the demo.
As a side note if you ever go to a game expo or press event and Major Nelson asks you not to film something in the presentation and you do it anyway and then go on and keep on filming after he notices you and calls you out and you don't stop it then y... More »
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